This document has been archived and replaced by NSF 12-550
(http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf12550).


Title: EarthScope National Office (ESNO)
Date: 06/22/10
Replaced: NSF 06-600

EarthScope National Office (ESNO)

[1]Program Solicitation
NSF 10-576

Replaces Document(s):
NSF 06-600


   NSF Logo

   National Science Foundation
   Directorate for Geosciences
        Division of Earth Sciences

   Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     October 01, 2010

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES

   This is a revised solicitation that replaces [2]NSF 06-600.  The
   primary revisions in this solicitation are (1) more explicit
   definition of the education and outreach role of the EarthScope
   National Office, taking into account the EarthScope Education and
   Outreach Implementation Plan; (2) more explicit description of NSF
   expectations for the structure of the EarthScope National Office; and
   (3) an increase in the anticipated funding level for the National
   Office from $400,000 to $600,000 pending availability of funds.  In
   addition, this solicitation provides links to updated science and
   education and outreach plans.

   Please be advised that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures
   Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring
   provisions of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug.
   9, 2007.)   As specified in the ACA, each proposal that requests
   funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description
   of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such
   individuals.  Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will
   be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal
   Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of
   this new requirement).

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

   Program Title:

     EarthScope

   Synopsis of Program:

     This solicitation calls for proposals to establish a
     community-based EarthScope National Office. The Office will foster
     and support integrated science, education, outreach, and related
     activities for the EarthScope program; facilitate and coordinate
     EarthScope scientific planning and education and outreach
     activities; facilitate collaborative research; and when necessary,
     form scientific responses to "events" in EarthScope topics and/or
     regions of interest.

   Cognizant Program Officer(s):
     * Gregory J. Anderson, telephone: (703) 292-4693, email:
       [3]greander@nsf.gov

   Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
     * 47.050 --- Geosciences

Award Information

   Anticipated Type of Award:  Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or
   Cooperative Agreement

   Estimated Number of Awards:    1

   Anticipated Funding Amount:   $600,000  Estimated average of
   approximately $600,000 per year for FY2011 and in subsequent years,
   for up to 4 years, pending annual performance and availability of
   funds.

Eligibility Information

   Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
     * Universities and Colleges - Universities and two- and four-year
       colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having
       a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty
       members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic
       institutions.

   PI Limit:

     None Specified

   Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1

   Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1



Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

   A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
     * Letters of Intent: Not Applicable

     * Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable

     * Full Proposals:
          + Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award
            Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide
            (GPG) Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is
            available electronically on the NSF website at:
            [4]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.
          + Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov
            Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission
            of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note:
            The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the
            Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at:
            [5]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grant
            sgovguide)

   B. Budgetary Information 
     * Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required under this
       solicitation.

     * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:  Not Applicable

     * Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable

   C. Due Dates
     * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     October 01, 2010

Proposal Review Information Criteria

   Merit Review Criteria:   National Science Board approved criteria.
   Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text
   of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

   Award Conditions:   Standard NSF award conditions apply.

   Reporting Requirements:   Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     [6]Summary of Program Requirements

    I. [7]Introduction
   II. [8]Program Description
   III. [9]Award Information
   IV. [10]Eligibility Information
    V. [11]Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
         A. [12]Proposal Preparation Instructions
         B. [13]Budgetary Information
         C. [14]Due Dates
         D. [15]FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
   VI. [16]NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
         A. [17]NSF Merit Review Criteria
         B. [18]Review and Selection Process
   VII. [19]Award Administration Information
         A. [20]Notification of the Award
         B. [21]Award Conditions
         C. [22]Reporting Requirements
   VIII. [23]Agency Contacts
   IX. [24]Other Information

I. INTRODUCTION

   EarthScope is an Earth science program to explore the 4-dimensional
   structure of the North American continent. The EarthScope Program
   provides a framework for broad, integrated studies across the Earth
   sciences, including research on fault properties and the earthquake
   process, strain transfer, magmatic and hydrous fluids in the crust and
   mantle, plate boundary processes, large-scale continental deformation,
   continental structure and evolution, and composition and structure of
   the deep Earth. In addition, EarthScope offers multiple opportunities
   for Earth science education at all levels and an excellent opportunity
   to develop cyberinfrastructure to integrate, distribute, and analyze
   diverse data sets.

   The nucleus of the Program is the EarthScope Facility, a multi-purpose
   array of instruments and observatories consisting of the Plate
   Boundary Observatory (PBO), the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth
   (SAFOD), and the USArray. These observatories provide an unprecedented
   amount of geophysical data to address the processes that formed and
   continue to deform North America.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

   Background

   A series of community meetings and workshops beginning in 1999
   culminated in the publication of EarthScope facility construction and
   science plans in October 2001 and March 2002, respectively. A key need
   identified in the community-developed integrated science plan
   ("EarthScope: Scientific Targets for the World's Largest Observatory
   Pointed at the Solid Earth"; available from
   [25]http://earthscope.org/es_doc/reports/es_wksp_mar2002.pdf) was
   "EarthScope must proactively develop a communication mechanism with
   the broad research community capable of using EarthScope data and
   results." One option identified in the plan was the creation of an
   "EarthScope Office", with responsibilities that could include serving
   as a "central clearing house" for EarthScope products; initiating
   peer-reviewed, integrated EarthScope publications (for example,
   monographs and/or comprehensive annual EarthScope science reports);
   organizing workshops and sessions at national meetings; publishing a
   monthly newsletter, and maintaining an up-to-date Web presence,
   including an EarthScope archive. NSF adopted the concept of such an
   EarthScope National Office for which a periodic competition would be
   held.

   In 2007, the first EarthScope National Office (ESNO) was established
   at Oregon State University. Since then, ESNO has served as a nexus for
   a wide range of scientific and educational activities related to
   EarthScope, working in partnership with the EarthScope Steering
   Committee (ESSC), the operators of the EarthScope Facility, NSF, and
   the community. These activities have included developing and
   maintaining the EarthScope newsletter, the content of the EarthScope
   Web site ([26]http://www.earthscope.org/), one-pagers, a booth for
   meetings, and other items; coordinating the EarthScope Speaker Series
   and a variety of EarthScope meetings and short courses; and
   representing EarthScope at conferences and public outreach events.

   In 2009-2010, the EarthScope community, under the leadership of ESSC
   and ESNO, developed an updated EarthScope science plan, "Unlocking the
   Secrets of the North American Continent: An EarthScope Science Plan
   for 2010-2020" (available from
   [27]http://earthscope.org/ESSP). The first specific recommendation in
   the 2010 science plan is to "maintain and enhance the EarthScope
   National Office" as it serves the community. The science plan noted
   that ESNO " has helped to communicate EarthScope progress, data, and
   research opportunities and has expanded education and outreach efforts
   to include informal as well as formal education."

   Duties of the next EarthScope National Office

   NSF invites proposals to build on this success and develop the next
   EarthScope National Office. Duties of this office will include, but
   are not limited to:
     * Publishing a quarterly EarthScope newsletter and annual integrated
       EarthScope science report;
     * Developing and maintaining the content of the EarthScope Web site,
       including an EarthScope publications and products library;
     * Developing and distributing EarthScope outreach materials (e.g.,
       brochures, one-pagers, the EarthScope booth, video materials,
       etc.) using both traditional and new media;
     * Coordinating the EarthScope Speaker Series and the EarthScope
       National Meeting;
     * Assisting with planning of and logistics for the EarthScope
       Institutes and other community-initiated workshops and short
       courses;
     * Supporting the EarthScope Steering Committee and its
       subcommittees, and other components of the EarthScope advisory
       structure; and
     * Representing EarthScope at appropriate research and educational
       conferences and public outreach events.

   In addition, the next office will coordinate a community-wide
   EarthScope education and outreach (E&O) effort centered on the five
   major goals of the EarthScope E&O Implementation Plan
   ([28]http://earthscope.org/es_doc/eno/ES_E&O_Impl_Plan_2_07.pdf):

    1. Create a high-profile public identity for EarthScope that
       emphasizes the integrated nature of the scientific discoveries and
       the importance of EarthScope research initiatives;
    2. Establish a sense of ownership among scientific, professional, and
       educational communities and the public so that a diverse group of
       individuals and organizations can and will make contributions to
       EarthScope;
    3. Promote science literacy and understanding of EarthScope among all
       audiences through informal education venues;
    4. Advance formal Earth science education by promoting inquiry-based
       classroom investigations that focus on understanding Earth and the
       interdisciplinary nature of EarthScope; and
    5. Foster use of EarthScope data, discoveries, and new technology in
       resolving challenging problems and improving our quality of life.

   The E&O effort should effectively ensure that EarthScope data and
   discoveries, and their implications, reach a broad spectrum of local,
   regional, and national audiences, including scientists, educators,
   students, landowners, policymakers, and the general public. The
   EarthScope E&O effort will explicitly encourage partnerships with
   underrepresented institutions and non-profit organizations, such as
   Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving
   Institutes (HSI), Community and Tribal Colleges, National Parks, and
   museums.

   The next National Office will pursue additional activities that are
   compatible with the fundamental mission of the EarthScope National
   Office: to foster, facilitate, coordinate, and support integrated
   science, education, outreach, and related activities for the
   EarthScope program.

   EarthScope National Office Structure

   NSF anticipates that successful operations and management of the next
   National Office will require a senior-level scientist (the proposal
   PI) who will serve as the part-time ESNO Director and manage the
   activities of the office; a full-time EarthScope E&O Coordinator,
   whose effort will be devoted to the EarthScope E&O program; and
   additional dedicated support staff who will perform the other
   functions of the office, including maintaining Web content, providing
   logistical and other support for workshops, supporting the EarthScope
   advisory structure, and administrative functions. The ESNO Director
   will also serve as a member of the EarthScope Steering Committee. NSF
   anticipates that the next EarthScope National Office will continue to
   leverage the capabilities of the EarthScope Facility and will work in
   partnership with ESSC, NSF, and the community in order to achieve the
   mission of the office.

   Links and related documents
     * 2002 EarthScope science plan:
       [29]http://earthscope.org/es_doc/reports/es_wksp_mar2002.pdf
     * 2007 EarthScope Education and Outreach Implementation Plan:
       [30]http://earthscope.org/es_doc/eno/ES_E&O_Impl_Plan_2_07.pdf
     * Presentations and other documents related to the 2010 EarthScope
       science plan: [31]http://earthscope.org/ESSP
     * EarthScope Education and Outreach Subcommittee recommendations to
       ESSC on EarthScope Education and Outreach Structure, endorsed by
       ESSC in February 2010:
       [32]http://earthscope.org/es_doc/esno/EarthScope-EO-Coordinator-fi
       nal.pdf

  III. AWARD INFORMATION

   Under this Solicitation, proposals may be submitted for up to 4 years.
   The program expects to make one (1) standard or continuing grant or
   cooperative agreement depending on the quality of submissions and the
   availability of funds. Approximately $600,000 is expected to be
   available in FY2011 to support the first year of an award for
   proposals received under this Solicitation.

  IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

   Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
     * Universities and Colleges - Universities and two- and four-year
       colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having
       a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty
       members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic
       institutions.

   PI Limit:

     None Specified

   Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1

   Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1

  V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

    A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   Full Proposal Preparation Instructions:  Proposers may opt to submit
   proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or
   via the NSF FastLane system.
     * Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in
       response to this program solicitation should be prepared and
       submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in
       the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG
       is available electronically on the NSF website at:
       [33]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.
       Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications
       Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from
       [34]nsfpubs@nsf.gov. Proposers are reminded to identify this
       program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on
       the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science
       Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to
       determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure
       to submit this information may delay processing.

     * Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in
       response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be
       prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov
       Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of
       NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF
       Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov
       website and on the NSF website at:
       ([35]http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf).
       To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms
       Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click
       on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and
       Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity
       number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix)
       and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the
       Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF
       Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail
       from [36]nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

   The following items should be included in the Project Description and
   will be considered in the review:
     * A description of previous educational and/or outreach efforts of
       the investigators. This might include how the investigators have:
       1) influenced their research discipline(s); 2) incorporated or
       integrated contemporary research questions, processes, and results
       into educational experiences; 3) demonstrated innovative use of
       traditional and/or new media; 4) coordinated and/or organized, or
       helped to coordinate and/or organize, community outreach and/or
       planning activities; or 5) demonstrated leadership among
       colleagues in promoting the above.
     * A description of the education and outreach activities to be
       undertaken as part of the proposed activities for the National
       Office, and how those activities would meet the goals of the
       EarthScope Education and Outreach Implementation Plan.
     * A plan for assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of Office
       activities.

    B. Budgetary Information

   Cost Sharing:   Cost sharing is not required under this solicitation.

    C. Due Dates

     * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     October 01, 2010

    D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

     * For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane: 
       Detailed technical instructions regarding the technical aspects of
       preparation and submission via FastLane are available at:
       [37]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user
       support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail
       [38]fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general
       technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system.
       Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be
       referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section
       VIII of this funding opportunity.
       Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized
       Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the
       proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal
       certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal
       Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide
       the required electronic certifications within five working days
       following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further
       instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane
       Website at: [39]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.
     * For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov: 
       Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must
       register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the
       applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on
       the Grants.gov website. The Grants.gov's Grant Community User
       Guide is a comprehensive reference document that provides
       technical information about Grants.gov. Proposers can download the
       User Guide as a Microsoft Word document or as a PDF document. The
       Grants.gov User Guide is available at:
       [40]http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport. In addition, the NSF
       Grants.gov Application Guide provides additional technical
       guidance regarding preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For
       Grants.gov user support, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at
       1-800-518-4726 or by email: [41]support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov
       Contact Center answers general technical questions related to the
       use of Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program
       solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff
       contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation.
       Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed,
       the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the
       application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding
       opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The
       AOR must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The
       completed application will be transferred to the NSF FastLane
       system for further processing.

  VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

   Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program
   where they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation
   requirements. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist,
   engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually
   by three to ten other persons outside NSF who are experts in the
   particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are
   selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review
   process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they
   believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or
   persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions
   may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the
   Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is
   optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of
   interest with the proposal.

    A. NSF Merit Review Criteria

   All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National
   Science Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit
   and the broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances,
   however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight
   the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

   The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The
   criteria include considerations that help define them. These
   considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given
   proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria,
   reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are
   relevant to the proposal being considered and for which the reviewer
   is qualified to make judgements.

     What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
     How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
     understanding within its own field or across different fields? How
     well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the
     project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality
     of the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity
     suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially
     transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the
     proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?

     What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
     How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding
     while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the
     proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented
     groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To
     what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and
     education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and
     partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance
     scientific and technological understanding? What may be the
     benefits of the proposed activity to society?

   Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts
   are available electronically on the NSF website at:
   [42]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.

   Mentoring activities provided to postdoctoral researchers supported on
   the project, as described in a one-page supplementary document, will
   be evaluated under the Broader Impacts criterion.

   NSF staff also will give careful consideration to the following in
   making funding decisions:

     Integration of Research and Education
     One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to
     foster integration of research and education through the programs,
     projects, and activities it supports at academic and research
     institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities
     where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as
     researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in
     joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of
     discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning
     perspectives.

     Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
     Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
     citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons
     with disabilities -- is essential to the health and vitality of
     science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of
     diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and
     activities it considers and supports.

   Additional Review Criteria:

     * Do the proposal PI and team, and the institution, have
       demonstrated expertise in management of large, diverse projects?
     * How well would the proposed role of the E&O Coordinator support
       the goals expressed in the EarthScope E&O Implementation Plan?
     * How well would the proposed plan foster continued development of
       the broad EarthScope community?
     * How well would the proposed plan create or foster synergy among
       the various EarthScope components and activities?
     * How well would the proposed plan foster innovative use of
       traditional and new media?
     * Is there sufficient institutional support and capacity for the
       proposed effort?
     * Is there a clear management plan for the proposed effort?

    B. Review and Selection Process

   Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be
   reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.

   Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either
   support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to
   manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and
   will formulate a recommendation.

   After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration
   of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the
   cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or
   recommended for award. NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants
   whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding
   within six months. The time interval begins on the deadline or target
   date, or receipt date, whichever is later.  The interval ends when the
   Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.

   A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and
   submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as
   confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the
   names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project
   Director by the Program Officer.  In addition, the proposer will
   receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.

   In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the
   proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of
   Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy
   implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other
   agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements
   Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF
   or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of
   NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a
   NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that
   makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or
   cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer
   does so at their own risk.

  VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

    A. Notification of the Award

   Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a
   Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations
   whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible
   by the cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim
   copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be
   provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section
   VI.B. for additional information on the review process.)

    B. Award Conditions

   An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any
   special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments
   thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of
   expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates
   any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3)
   the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award
   conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (GC-1); * or Research
   Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance
   that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative
   agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative
   Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC)
   and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are
   electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and
   transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.

   *These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
   [43]http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF.
   Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse,
   telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from [44]nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

   More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other
   important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained
   in the NSF Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available
   electronically on the NSF Website at
   [45]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag.

    C. Reporting Requirements

   For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing
   grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project
   report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the
   end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require
   more frequent project reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a
   grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report, and a
   project outcomes report for the general public.

   Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports, or
   the project outcomes report will delay NSF review and processing of
   any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for
   that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in
   advance to assure availability of required data.

   PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system,
   available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual
   and final project reports.  Such reports provide information on
   activities and findings, project participants (individual and
   organizational) publications; and, other specific products and
   contributions.  PIs will not be required to re-enter information
   previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates
   using the electronic system.  Submission of the report via FastLane
   constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report
   are accurate and complete. The project outcomes report must be
   prepared and submitted using Research.gov. This report serves as a
   brief summary, prepared specifically for the public, of the nature and
   outcomes of the project. This report will be posted on the NSF website
   exactly as it is submitted by the PI.

  VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

   General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
     * Gregory J. Anderson, telephone: (703) 292-4693, email:
       [46]greander@nsf.gov

   For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
     * FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail:
       [47]fastlane@nsf.gov.

   For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:
     * Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational
       Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from
       Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please
       contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail:
       [48]support@grants.gov.

  IX. OTHER INFORMATION

   The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information
   on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and
   funding opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is
   strongly encouraged. In addition, National Science Foundation Update
   is a free e-mail subscription service designed to keep potential
   proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding
   opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and
   award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants
   Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail when new
   publications are issued that match their identified interests. Users
   can subscribe to this service by clicking the "Get NSF Updates by
   Email" link on the [49]NSF web site.

   Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for
   Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities
   may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on
   Grants.gov may be obtained at [50]http://www.grants.gov.

  ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

   The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency
   created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42
   USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the
   progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity,
   and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of
   science and engineering."

   NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and
   engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to
   more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems,
   businesses, informal science organizations and other research
   organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about
   one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic
   research.

   NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research,
   education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are
   funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand
   applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency
   operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research
   Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Antarctic
   research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research
   between universities and industry, US participation in international
   scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at
   every academic level.

   Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities
   provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons
   with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant
   Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding
   preparation of these types of proposals.

   The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf
   (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that
   enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the
   Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD
   may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800)
   877-8339.

   The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at
   (703) 292-5111.

      The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific
    progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and
    cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences,
    mathematics, and engineering.

    To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download
    copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit
    the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov

    * Location:
       4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22230

    * For General Information
       (NSF Information Center):(703) 292-5111

    * TDD (for the hearing-impaired):(703) 292-5090

    * To Order Publications or Forms: Send an e-mail to:
       nsfpubs@nsf.gov or telephone:(703) 292-7827

    * To Locate NSF Employees:(703) 292-5111


  PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

   The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is
   solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act
   of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in
   connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project
   reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and
   reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information
   requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants
   as part of the proposal review process; to proposer
   institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal
   review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to
   government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and
   educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government
   agencies or other entities needing information regarding applicants or
   nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to
   coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court,
   or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the
   government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may
   be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates
   to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems
   of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and
   Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and
   NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records, " 69 Federal
   Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). Submission of the information is
   voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however,
   may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

   An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
   respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid
   Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control
   number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for
   this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per
   response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments
   regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection
   of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

   Suzanne H. Plimpton
   Reports Clearance Officer
   Division of Administrative Services
   National Science Foundation
   Arlington, VA 22230

     [53]Policies and Important Links

   |
   [54]Privacy | [55]FOIA | [56]Help | [57]Contact NSF | [58]Contact Web
   Master | [59]SiteMap

   National Science Foundation

   The National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington,
   Virginia 22230, USA
   Tel: (703) 292-5111, FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (800) 281-8749

   Last Updated:
   11/07/06
   [60]Text Only
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References

   1. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#toc
   2. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf06600
   3. mailto:greander@nsf.gov
   4. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
   5. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide
   6. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#summary
   7. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#pgm_intr_txt
   8. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#pgm_desc_txt
   9. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#awd_info
  10. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#elig
  11. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#prep
  12. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#prep
  13. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#budg_cst_shr_txt
  14. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#dates
  15. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#fastlane
  16. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#review
  17. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#reviewcrit
  18. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#reviewprot
  19. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#awardadmin
  20. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#awardnotify
  21. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#grantcond
  22. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#reportreq
  23. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#cont
  24. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10576/nsf10576.htm#othpgm
  25. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?
http://earthscope.org/es_doc/reports/es_wksp_mar2002.pdf
  26. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?http://www.earthscope.org/
  27. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?http://earthscope.org/ESSP
  28. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?
http://earthscope.org/es_doc/eno/ES_E&O_Impl_Plan_2_07.pdf
  29. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?
http://earthscope.org/es_doc/reports/es_wksp_mar2002.pdf
  30. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?
http://earthscope.org/es_doc/eno/ES_E&O_Impl_Plan_2_07.pdf
  31. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?http://earthscope.org/ESSP
  32. http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?
http://earthscope.org/es_doc/esno/EarthScope-EO-Coordinator-final.pdf
  33. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
  34. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
  35. http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf
  36. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
  37. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm
  38. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
  39. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp
  40. http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport
  41. mailto:support@grants.gov
  42. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf
  43. http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF
  44. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
  45. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag
  46. mailto:greander@nsf.gov
  47. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
  48. mailto:support@grants.gov
  49. http://www.nsf.gov/
  50. http://www.grants.gov/
  51. http://www.nsf.gov/
  52. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
  53. http://www.nsf.gov/policies
  54. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/privacy.jsp
  55. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/foia.jsp
  56. http://www.nsf.gov/help/
  57. http://www.nsf.gov/help/contact.jsp
  58. mailto:webmaster@nsf.gov
  59. http://www.nsf.gov/help/sitemap.jsp
  60. http://transcoder.usablenet.com/tt/referrer